Learning Resources

This Cartoon has 7 Tips for Fact-Checking Online Information

Featuring Fred Fact, the cartoon walks readers through seven simple ways they can use their smartphones to check information and become a more discerning media consumer.

It can be overwhelming to try and figure out whether or not what you’re reading online is true.

Doctored newspaper articlesspreadon Snapchat, conspiracy theoriessurfaceto the top of YouTube search results and Facebook groups are increasinglypopulatedby scammers and fake news. From WhatsApp to Google, misinformation populates most platforms online and it canoutpaceverified information.

As daunting as this sounds, fact-checking doesn’t have to be heavy lift — it can be as easy as reading a cartoon.

That’s why Brazilian fact-checking project Aos Fatos created one. Featuring Fred Fact, the cartoon walks readers through seven simple ways they can use their smartphones to check information and become a more discerning media consumer. Tips include things as simple as checking the author’s name and reverse searching an image.